Pipe fitter apprenticeship programs respond to growing need

Published 2:49 pm, Friday, September 21, 2012

Pipe fitters typically work on pipes carrying chemicals, acids and gases, so extensive training and education is required.

Pipe fitters typically work on pipes carrying chemicals, acids and gases, so extensive training and education is required.

Photo: iStockphoto

Pipe fitter apprenticeship programs respond to growing need

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The employment of pipe fitters is projected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all jobs, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Major changes caused by technological innovation in building construction and stricter water regulations for plumbing systems, as well as a swelling demand for skilled workers, are requiring those employed in the pipe-fitting industry to acquire recognized apprenticeships and accumulate hands-on experience prior to securing a job in the industry.

Like plumbers and steamfitters, pipe fitters install, inspect, test and repair pipes and fixtures according to state and local building codes.

Prior to employment, prospective pipe fitters must attain an apprenticeship through an employer or technical school. Pipe Fitters Local 211, a Houston-area pipe-fitters union, runs an apprenticeship technical school. The Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, or JATC Apprenticeship School, is a five-year training program for those pursuing a career in pipe fitting.

"(Pipe fitting apprentices) study everything from mathematics and trigonometry, to blueprint reading and welding," said Kenneth Edwards, business manager at Pipe Fitters Local 211. "They become familiar with different types fields and everything to do with the kinds of jobs (students will encounter)."

Requirements to be admitted into the JATC Apprenticeship School are much like those of similar programs - admission boards are looking for responsible high school graduates or GED holders who have clean records and a passion for the field.

"The No. 1 thing we're looking for is someone who will dedicate themselves for all five years of the program like they would a (traditional) college," Edwards said. "Our program actually works through Houston Community College, so students can pursue a degree if they stay committed to the program."

The admissions board for the apprenticeship program, which enrolls more than 200 students, looks for students who are dependable, which includes a clear criminal record and clean drug test, as pipe-fitting contracts can require high-security access.

"We have contracts with places like NASA and the Medical Center, so we need those who are not only committed to school and self-starters, but can trusted to work in high-security locations," he said.

Edwards said it is important to note that because of advances in technology, more women are entering the field.

"With technology today, things like orbital welding are done with computers, so one just has to know how to run the programs well to do the job well."

Pipe-fitting apprentices often are provided employment opportunities during or upon completion of the apprenticeship.

The JATC Apprenticeship School provides such opportunities to its students and graduates through joint collaboration with local pipe-fitting contractors.

"We have over 90 different contracts throughout Houston who employ our members," Edwards said. "Contracts will call us needing a particular kind of pipe fitter. We'll send students and graduates to those job sites."

Not only do JATC Apprenticeship School's student benefit from increased job opportunities, but the program is entirely free.

"Our members and contractors pay for (the program) out of their contributions," Edwards said. "There are no program fees, no enrollment charges and no tuition. Students are learning at night and earning wages during the day. Some of our students are earning $30-$40,000 a year while enrolled as a full-time student."